How to Prepare a Portfolio Presentation for a Job

Portfolio bag.

Having a portfolio that showcases your talents is important to make yourself stand out in front of an employer. Portfolios help you gain more credibility, and convey that you are a talented, productive individual. Portfolios are needed in advertising and graphic design industries, as well as in journalism, publishing, photography and studio art. Preparing a portfolio isn't difficult since you already have the materials needed. It's just a matter of compiling them in a proper way.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Work samples
• Simple portfolio case
• Clear plastic sheets

1. Identify whether or not a portfolio is needed for the job in which you are applying. In creative industries, a portfolio is important so the employer can review whether your talent and creative philosophy are aligned with the company. In other fields such as finance and business, a portfolio is not considered mandatory.

2. Research the company. Look at their values, their clients, experience in the industry and where they are headed. Learning more about the company will guide you as you select what to include in your portfolio. Think of your portfolio like your résumé--you don't need to put everything you've done in there. It is a selling tool to get you the job.

3. Gather the documents you need and place them in the portfolio. Depending on the qualifications the employer is seeking, arrange them in a particular order. Place pertinent documents first in the portfolio. These include writing samples, design work or spec ads. Make sure to put your strongest work first. Convey versatility by adding variety to your portfolio. Showcase different types of work you've done. Then, toward the end, add documents showing exceptional achievement such as awards and presentation slides.

4. Format your portfolio. Add a cover page, with your name and the title of your portfolio. In most cases, the words "portfolio" would suffice on the center of the cover page, and your name at the bottom. Then, instead of stuffing documents in a binder, place them in clear plastic sheets to convey a more professional look. Depending on your work samples, document sizes might vary-- newspaper design samples might involve legal-size paper, while ad samples might be in an irregular size. The best way to present written work samples that don't fit in the portfolio is to fold them, and show them to the employer as requested, and for image-heavy samples, scale them to fit an 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper or save them on a CD that you can show the employer on a computer.

5. Place your documents in a portfolio case. There are different kinds of portfolio cases available, from the bulky, multi-pocketed ones, to the basic ones similar to a three-ring binder. You might want to opt for a simpler portfolio case so your content will stand out more than the case that holds it. Also, simple portfolio cases are convenient. You easily can show the employer the content and not be encumbered with the hassle of zippers or handles.

Tips & Warnings

• To make the presentation even better, bring a CD containing digital copies that you can leave with the employer.

• Opt for a portfolio case in a color that goes with anything, such as black, to coordinate with whatever you will wear.

References

• How Magazine: "5 Portfolio Presentation Tips;" Shane Donahue; February 2007
• Art-Support: Artists Portfolio Guidelines
• University of Wisconsin-Madison: "Using Your Portfolio in the Job Search"

Resources

• Manifest Your Potential: "How to Create an Awesome Work Portfolio"
• College Grad: "Your Job Fair Portfolio"
• Engineering: "Engineering Job Interview Tips"